Don Walton: Nelson says withdraw as Iraq steps up
What to do about Iraq and Iran? The Bush administration needs to establish “measurable goals and standards” that guide gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops as Iraq increases its own military capability, Ben Nelson says.
“We can’t just pull up stakes and leave,” the Democratic senator said in a Lincoln interview.
“We shouldn’t cut and run,” he said. “But Iraq has to win the war.”
As for Iran, Nelson said he can’t understand “the reluctance of European countries to deal with Iran on our behalf. Their own security interests are at stake.”
The best way to resolve concerns over Iran’s nuclear development is through European nations who already have diplomatic relations with Iran, Nelson said.
“But it is in our own interest to engage Iran in talks on our own if the Europeans fail. To suggest that talking is appeasement is wrong-headed.”
* * *
Sure, he begins his gubernatorial bid as an underdog, David Hahn says.
Yes, it’s going to be a challenge.
“But my business career has been challenging,” the Democratic gubernatorial aspirant says.
“It’s not just a string of successes. I benefited from the dot.com boom and suffered through the dot.com bust. We had to pull it together and figure it out.”
Hahn, an attorney and Internet entrepreneur, promises to be just as “creative and innovative” in addressing state issues.
Although he’s still in the process of thinking things through, some ideas are percolating.
“I’m interested in the idea of some kind of an earned income tax credit for businesses,” he says. “That idea (providing tax relief for low-income workers) has lifted a lot of working poor families. It might make sense for existing small businesses and new small and medium-sized businesses.”
Although he has no preconceived notion about the adequacy of state funding for the University of Nebraska, Hahn says: “I find it discouraging our children go to a public university and come out with an amount of debt that limits their choices.”
Property tax reform already is on his mind.
When Hahn said last week he’s not ready to talk about tax cuts or tax reform, that didn’t mean he won’t have anything to say about those topics later on.
Hahn, a man who enjoys reading history, philosophy and political science, says there’s time to do some serious thinking before he develops a detailed agenda for Nebraskans to consider.
Next fall, after Republican voters have chosen their nominee, and assuming he’s the Democratic candidate, Hahn would like to discuss issues and proposals with his general election opponent in at least eight televised debates.
That number of debates is not likely to occur. But if voters pay attention, this should be a gubernatorial election that offers Nebraskans some new ideas and clear choices to make 11 months from now.
Finishing up:
* Here’s how Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post sees the uphill Republican challenge to Nelson: “Pete Ricketts’ willingness to spend heavily out of his own pocket on a series of television commercials gives Republicans some hope against Nelson in this deeply red state. If Republicans have any shot at beating Nelson, Ricketts needs to emerge as the GOP nominee.”
* Chiding Dave Heineman and Tom Osborne for their unwillingess to agree to his proposal for eight Republican gubernatorial debates because of time constraints, Dave Nabity said such a commitment would consume only 0.9 percent of their remaining time before the May primary election.
* Eugene McCarthy in an interview at The Mill nine years ago: “We couldn’t have done what we did in 1968” under current political restraints. “We couldn’t raise the necessary money” to compete or be heard, thanks to campaign finance reform, TV costs, federal election laws and “the growing control of politics by corporate PACs.”
Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.
“We can’t just pull up stakes and leave,” the Democratic senator said in a Lincoln interview.
“We shouldn’t cut and run,” he said. “But Iraq has to win the war.”
As for Iran, Nelson said he can’t understand “the reluctance of European countries to deal with Iran on our behalf. Their own security interests are at stake.”
The best way to resolve concerns over Iran’s nuclear development is through European nations who already have diplomatic relations with Iran, Nelson said.
“But it is in our own interest to engage Iran in talks on our own if the Europeans fail. To suggest that talking is appeasement is wrong-headed.”
* * *
Sure, he begins his gubernatorial bid as an underdog, David Hahn says.
Yes, it’s going to be a challenge.
“But my business career has been challenging,” the Democratic gubernatorial aspirant says.
“It’s not just a string of successes. I benefited from the dot.com boom and suffered through the dot.com bust. We had to pull it together and figure it out.”
Hahn, an attorney and Internet entrepreneur, promises to be just as “creative and innovative” in addressing state issues.
Although he’s still in the process of thinking things through, some ideas are percolating.
“I’m interested in the idea of some kind of an earned income tax credit for businesses,” he says. “That idea (providing tax relief for low-income workers) has lifted a lot of working poor families. It might make sense for existing small businesses and new small and medium-sized businesses.”
Although he has no preconceived notion about the adequacy of state funding for the University of Nebraska, Hahn says: “I find it discouraging our children go to a public university and come out with an amount of debt that limits their choices.”
Property tax reform already is on his mind.
When Hahn said last week he’s not ready to talk about tax cuts or tax reform, that didn’t mean he won’t have anything to say about those topics later on.
Hahn, a man who enjoys reading history, philosophy and political science, says there’s time to do some serious thinking before he develops a detailed agenda for Nebraskans to consider.
Next fall, after Republican voters have chosen their nominee, and assuming he’s the Democratic candidate, Hahn would like to discuss issues and proposals with his general election opponent in at least eight televised debates.
That number of debates is not likely to occur. But if voters pay attention, this should be a gubernatorial election that offers Nebraskans some new ideas and clear choices to make 11 months from now.
Finishing up:
* Here’s how Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post sees the uphill Republican challenge to Nelson: “Pete Ricketts’ willingness to spend heavily out of his own pocket on a series of television commercials gives Republicans some hope against Nelson in this deeply red state. If Republicans have any shot at beating Nelson, Ricketts needs to emerge as the GOP nominee.”
* Chiding Dave Heineman and Tom Osborne for their unwillingess to agree to his proposal for eight Republican gubernatorial debates because of time constraints, Dave Nabity said such a commitment would consume only 0.9 percent of their remaining time before the May primary election.
* Eugene McCarthy in an interview at The Mill nine years ago: “We couldn’t have done what we did in 1968” under current political restraints. “We couldn’t raise the necessary money” to compete or be heard, thanks to campaign finance reform, TV costs, federal election laws and “the growing control of politics by corporate PACs.”
Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.
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